In 39 games with the Griffins this season, Howard shows a 17-19-2 record with a 2.61 GAA, a 0.914 save percentage and two shutouts, and he places fourth among AHL netminders in both minutes played (2,300) and saves (1,057). Howard recently represented the Griffins at the 2008 AHL All-Star Classic in Binghamton, N.Y., and he was named the Rbk X-Pulse/AHL Goaltender of the Month for December after posting the best numbers of his career for a calendar month with a 1.72 GAA and a 0.939 save percentage.

Dominik Hasek is day-to-day with minor inflammation of his hip flexor. Chris Osgood and Howard are expected to dress on Tuesday when the Red Wings visit Nashville at 8 p.m. EST.